Stationary contact combination including resilient retaining means



Oct. 19, 1965 F. w. KussY ETAL 3,213,255

STATIONARY CONTACT COMBINATION INCLUDING RESILIENT RETAINING MEANS Filed March 25. 1964 MIMI United States Patent 3,213,255 STATIONARY CONTACT COMBINATION INCLUD- ING RESILIENT RETAINING MEANS Frank W. Kussy, Birmingham, Bernard Di Marco, Lincoln Park, and Andrew J. Kralik, Detroit, Mich., assignors to I-T-E Circuit Breaker Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Mar. 25, 1964, Ser. No. 354,552 5 Claims. '(Cl. 200-166) Our invention relates to a stationary contact combination and more particularly is directed to a novel arrangement whereby the stationary contact combination is frictionally held in place by a contact arm retainer and so designed and constructed so as to be easily removable and replaceable when necessary.

Our invention relates to an improvement in the stationary contact combination such as that shown in copending US. application Serial No. 189,915 filed April 24, 1962, in the names of John B. Cataldo et al., entitled Electrical Device and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention, and is particularly adaptable for use in connection with a contactor.

In the construction of a contactor, of the type disclosed in the aforementioned copending application, there is a contact assembly comprised of a plate carrying the stationary contacts and a carrier having the bridging movable contacts. When the contact assembly is removed from the contactor, it is desirable to have the stationary contacts remain in place. The fastening means of the stationary contact combination is utilized to perform a dual function, namely to mechanically secure the plate of the contact assembly to the base of the contactor, as well as to provide the pressure for the electrical contact between the stationary contacts of the plate and the terminals on the base of the contactor.

When it is desired to gain access to the interior of the contactor, as for example, to observe the coil and magnetic structure, it is necessary to loosen all of the fastening means associated with the stationary contacts, thereby removing the mechanical and electrical connection between the contact assembly and the remaining contactor. However, in such cases, it is desirable to have the stationary contacts remain in place on the plate and not fall out or be dislodged from the plate.

To this end, we have provided a novel contact arm retainer made of a spring-like material in which protruding arms thereof are in registry in grooves of the plate to thereby frictionally hold the stationary contacts in position. Thus, even though the fastening means for the stationary contacts have been loosened, the entire stationary contact combination comprised of a stationary contact arm, a contact arm retainer, and the fastening means, will remain in place with respect to the plate due to the spring force of the protruding arms of the contact arm retainer against the plate. However, the stationary contact combination can, nevertheless, be readily removable and replaceable with respect to the plate by first moving the two protruding arms toward each other. This will remove the spring force to permit the fastening means and contact arm retainer to be lifted out which permits removal of the stationary contact arm.

Accordingly, a primary object of our invention is to provide a means whereby the stationary contacts and their retaining means or mounting screws can be kept in position while the plate is removed from the contactor and still be constructed so that the stationary contact can be readily removable and replaceable.

The object of our invention will be more readily apparent when taken in connection with the following drawings, in which:

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FIGURE 1 is a top view of the contact carrier assembly illustrating our novel stationary contact combinations in place. In FIGURE 1, the bridging contact of the left pole has been removed.

FIGURE 2 is a partial end view of the contact carrier assembly of FIGURE 1 and illustrates an end view of our novel stationary contact combination.

FIGURE 3 is a partial bottom view of the contact carrier assembly of FIGURES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 4 is a side view of our novel stationary contact combination.

FIGURE 5 is a top view of our novel stationary contact combination of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is an end view of our novel stationary contact combination of FIGURES 4 and 5.

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view taken in direction of the arrows 77 of FIGURE 5 showing our novel stationary contact combination.

Referring first to FIGURES 4, 5, 6 and 7, it is seen that our novel stationary contact combination 300 is comprised of a stationary contact arm 241, a fastening means or mounting screw 252, and a contact arm retainer 310. The contact arm retainer 310 is comprised of a springlike material having two protruding arms 311 and 312 with an opening 313 and may have an extending ledge 314. The stationary contact arm 241 is comprised of contact 242, an opening 243 in the extension portion 244. The fastening means or mounting screw 252 is comprised of a threaded portion 253 and a reduced size shaft 254 extending between the threaded portion 253 and the head 255 of the screw 252. The stationary contact combination 300 is put together by passing the threaded portion 253 of the screw 252 through the opening 313 of the contact arm retainer 310 and the opening 243 of the stationary contact arm 241. The opening 313 of the contact arm retainer 310 can be comprised of locking teeth extending to the shaft of the reduced size shaft 254 so that the retainer 310 is captured on the fastening means 252 and can function as a lockwasher. Thereafter, if desired, the stationary contact arm 241 can be peened over at 245 so that a portion of the metal extends above the threaded portions 253 to thereby capture the fastening means 252 to the stationary contact arm 241.

In FIGURES l, 2 and 3, we have shown, respectively, a top, side and bottom view of a contact carrier assembly to be used in connection with a contactor. The contact carrier assembly 230 of FIGURES l, 2 and 3 shows the manner in which the stationary contact combination 300 of FIGURES 4, 5, 6 and 7 can be used in connection with a contactor. In particular, the contact carrier assembly 300 is comprised of two main components, namely the plate 240 and the carrier 260. The carrier 260 contains the bridging contacts 262 and their retainer means 266. The plate 240 has a plurality of channels 313 into which the stationary contact combination 300 are positioned. Thus, as seen in FIGURE 1, there are two stationary contact combinations 300 for each pole of the unit. The channels 313 of the plate 240 are provided with recesses 315 and 316 to receive the protruding ears 311, 312. The channels 313 are also provided with protrusions 317 and 318 which register with the recesses 246 and 247 of the stationary contact arms 241 to thereby properly position the stationary contact combination 300 within the channels 313 with respect to the bridging contacts 262.

It is noted that the stationary contact combination 300 is placed into the channels 313 of the plate 240 by moving the protruding ears 311, 312 toward each other, positioning the stationary contact combination 300 in place and then allowing the spring force of the protruding ears 311, 312 to exert a force against the recesses 315, 316 of the channel to thereby hold the stationary contact combination in place. It is noted that fastening means 252 are utilized to mechanically secure the plate 230 to the base of a contactor (not shown) as well as provide the means for electrically connecting the stationary contact 242 to terminals of the contactor (not shown). When it is desired to remove the contact carrier assembly 230 from the contactor, all of the fastening means 252 are loosened so that the entire contact assembly 230 can be removed. However, because of our novel contact arm retainer 310, the stationary contact combination 300 is retained on the plate 240. It is noted that in the illustration of FIGURE 1, the bridging contact 262 has been removed from the extreme left pole and, even with the bridging contact removed, the stationary contact combination is held in position as a result of the spring force exerted by the contact arm retainers.

It is also further noted that the stationary contact assembly 300 can easily and readily be removed from the plate 240 by first moving the protruding ears 311, 312 toward each other so that the fastening means 252 and the contact arm retainer 310 can be easily removed and replaced. If the stationary contact arm 241 is peened to the fastening means 252 then the stationary contact combination 300 is lifted out as a single unit. However, if the stationary contact arm 241 is not peened to the fastening means 252, then the stationary contact combination 300 is removed in two steps. That is, the contact arm retainer 310 is first lifted out and in so doing the fastening means 252 is automatically removed and then the stationary contact arm 241 can be lifted out.

We have shown a preferred embodiment of our invention in connection with FIGURES 1 through 7. It will be apparent that many variations can be encompassed within the spirit of our invention. Accordingly, we wish to be bound by the following claims taken in consideration with the foregoing specification and the attached drawings.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege or property is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A device of the class described including a contact assembly comprised of a plate and a carrier; said carrier containing a plurality of bridging contacts and said plate containing a pair of stationary contact combinations corresponding to each of said bridging contacts; said plate having channels to receive said stationary contact combinations; each of said stationary contact combinations being comprised of a stationary contact arm, a contact arm retainer, and a fastening means; said contact arm retainer being made of a spring material and containing protruding arms; said plate channels each having a set of grooves to receive said protruding arms of said contact arm retainer whereby said stationary contact arm and said fastening means are retained on said plate by the spring force of said protruding arms.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein each of said stationary contact arms has means to retain it to said fastening means to thereby capture said contact arm retainer between said stationary contact arm and said fastening means.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said protruding arms of said contact arm retainer are operatively positioned to permit said stationary contact combination to be removed from said plate when said protruding arms are moved toward each other against spring force and lifted out.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said plate channels each have a set of protrusions to register with recesses in said stationary contact arm 5. A device of the class described including a plate containing a pair of stationary contact combinations; said plate having channels to receive said stationary contact combinations, each of said stationary contact combinations being comprised of a stationary contact arm, a contact arm retainer, and a fastening means; said contact arm retainer being made of a spring material and containing two protruding arms; said plate channels each having a set of protrusions to register with recesses in said stationary contact arm; said contact arm retainer positioned between said stationary contact arm and said KATHLEEN H. CLAFFY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED INCLUDING A CONTACT ASSEMBLY COMPRISED OF A PLATE AND A CARRIER; SAID CARRIER CONTAING A PLURALITY OF BRIDGING CONTACTS AND SAID PLATE CONTAINING A PAIR OF STATIONARY CONTACT COMBINATIONS CORRESPONDING TO EACH OF SAID BRIDGING CONTACTS; SAID PLATE HAVING CHANNELS TO RECEIVE SAID STATIONARY CONTACT COMBINATIONS; EACH OF SAID STATIONARY CONTACT COMBINATIONS BEING COMPRISED OF A STATIONARY CONTACT ARM, A CONTACT ARM RETAINER, AND A FASTENING MEANS; SAID CONTACT ARM RETAINER BEING MADE OF A SPRING MATERIAL AND CONTAINING PORTRUDING ARMS; SAID PLATE CHANNELS EACH HAVING A SET OF GROOVES TO RECEIVE SAID PROTRUDING ARMS OF SAID CONTACT ARM RETAINER WHEREBY SAID STATIONARY CONTACT ARM AND SAID FASTENING MEANS ARE RETAINED ON SAID PLATE BY THE SPRING FORCE OF SAID PROTURDING ARMS. 